Page 38 of The Secret Life of a Lady
Before she could think of a cutting reply, he let her go. She should have moved a safe distance from him, but instead her hand dropped uselessly to her side. She was frozen. Ensnared by his gaze and the way his mouth moved as he spoke such illicit words.
‘So, you understand the particulars of intercourse, but we are decidedly staying away from such activities. What else do you know about the pleasure found between two people?’
Hannah’s brows drew close together. ‘I don’t understand. Do you mean seduction?’
He chuckled darkly. ‘Isn’t that why we’re here? To practice the art of seduction?’
‘Are you laughing at me?’
‘No, I’m not. I’m just fascinated by the contradiction of a woman who is skilled with a blade, uses words like bollocks, cock, and cunny, but is ignorant to the myriad of pleasures that can be found in bed sport. You are an endlessly evolving enigma, Hannah. I find myself determined to discover your secrets.’
Hannah stiffened at the thought. ‘There are some secrets best left in the darkness.’
‘But isn’t it our job to discover what’s hidden?’ Killian bit his lip.
‘That depends. Sometimes, we hide things because it would be dangerous for others to find them.’ She was revealing too much. But passion and fear warred within her, making it impossible to think clearly.
‘And sometimes we hide things because we are scared to let our true natures be known. Is that why you keep to the shadows, Hannah?’ His voice was soft, his green eyes delving too deeply into her soul.
What would happen if she told him? If she shared her most shameful secret? Could a man with his own demons understand hers? Doubtful.
Hannah squared her shoulders. ‘I’m safe in the shadows. My secrets are mine alone. Isn’t this night supposed to be about seduction?’
Killian lowered his chin in a slow nod of understanding. ‘You’re right. Of course. Forgive me.’
Hannah shrugged off the intensity of his stare. ‘There is nothing to forgive. You asked me what I know about pleasure. I know kissing is quite pleasant. I was hoping we could do more of that.’ She needed to take back control of this evening.Sharing her body with this man was much safer than baring her soul.
Killian reached out and gripped both of her hips, moving her to stand between his spread legs.
Holy hell. Perhaps not.
Baring her body suddenly seemed just as daunting as throwing a light on her hidden depths. Bravado was quickly replaced by panic. Her breath came in rapid pants.
Killian’s lips curled in a wicked smirk. ‘Ah, yes. Kissing is quite pleasant. And there are so many places one can be kissed.’ He raised an eyebrow and his gaze travelled from her lips to her breasts to lower, where the juncture between her thighs hid beneath two insignificant layers of flannel and cotton. ‘Perhaps tonight, I can show you some new places to kiss.’ His hands burned through the thin layers of cloth, scalding her skin.
Tingles burst every place his direct stare touched. ‘Yes. Certainly. I mean to say. That would be quite agreeable. To me. I would agree. To that proposition.’ She couldn’t think. She had no clue what she’d just said. Why didn’t the damnable man get on with things? If they were kissing, she could finally stop thinking.
‘Kissing is much easier with proximity.’ He licked his bottom lip and Hannah almost moaned. ‘Will you join me?’
In a fluid display of strength and agility, he picked her up and placed her on his lap with her back against the armrest. Air whooshed out of her lungs in a rush.
She thought it was difficult to think standing between his legs but sitting on his lap completely destroyed her concentration. Her unbound breasts were hovering at his eye level. Her bottom was cradled against his hard thighs, where she could feel the growing evidence of his desire jutting upward. She wriggled in an attempt to stand, but he clamped his arm over her legs and clasped her hip.
‘Don’t. Move,’ he growled.
Hannah froze as Killian took deep breaths through his nose.
‘I am trying to keep control of myself, but if you continue to wiggle like that, I’ll be lost.’ He captured her gaze, and Hannah was almost swept away by the wildness in his eyes.
‘I only meant to stand,’ she whispered.
His words were a revelation. She had just as much control over him as he did over her. Hannah always imagined the man would hold command in sexual encounters. It was one of her biggest hesitations. But watching Killian tremble with desire, she felt a unique power, different from facing a man in battle, but just as potent.
He rubbed his thumb in slow circles against her hip. ‘Yes. Of course. Is this too fast? Do you need to get up?’
His willingness to release her made her need to escape less imperative. ‘No. I think I like it. You just startled me. I didn’t expect you to want me on your lap.’
‘I want you any way I can get you.’ He moved his hand from her hip to her cheek where his fingers feathered over her scar. ‘I wonder, will you tell me how you got this?’
